Bitcoin Price Graph

An extremely volatile national currency and a bank system that is not trusted by the public make Argentina a perfect bitcoin playground, claims NYT’s Nathaniel Popper. And although the number of bitcoin users in the country is relatively small, Argentina has become a place where the virtual currency is actually used by the ordinary people in everyday commercial transactions due to the failing local banking system.

The Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency exchange platform has announced the end of its operational activity. Among the reasons cited are a lack of sufficient growth, low metrics, and consequently rising maintenance costs. However, the team will continue to work on a new product, to be released soon.

Bankymoon, a South Africa-based startup, makes it possible for those without a bank account to pay utility bills with digital currency. According to the World Bank, half of the world’s population is unbanked, and 80% of them live in Africa. Bitcoin can be a powerful tool in the hands of the unbanked and underbanked people struggling to make ends meet, Bankymoon’s founder Lorien Gamaroff believes.

There are not that many women in bitcoin startups and the bitcoin economy in general. Porn, drugs, and gambling are to blame, says Financial Times columnist Isabella Kaminska. CoinFox editor Nadezda Krasnushkina disagrees.

The bitcoin wallet service Coinbase has voiced its doubts about the proposed BitLicense in the state of New York. It urges bitcoiners to support their initiative - and to write to Benjamin Lawsky on Twitter.

One of the leading Chinese universities and the Huobi bitcoin exchange will investigate the possible future of digital finance together. To do this, they have founded Digital Access Research Initiative.

China remains the major player in the bitcoin market. Three of the biggest Chinese digital currency exchanges dominate the sector globally, with BTCChina, OKCoin, and Huobi market shares reaching 33.01%, 32.38%, and 14.78% respectively, according to data collected by bitcoinity.org over the last month.

On May 25th-28th, a number of prominent figures in the world of digital currency will assemble on the Necker Island in the Caribbean at the invitation of the famous British billionaire, owner of Virgin Group.

Fidor, a German bank known for its embrace of bitcoin, has announced it is expanding operations to Great Britain. UK users can now open their online Fidor UK accounts via the bank’s newly launched website, fidorbank.uk.

A new investment round gave Circle an additional $50 million in capital, bringing the total amount raised by the bitcoin company to $76 million. Goldman Sachs and the China-based IDG Capital both participated in the round.

In the first quarter of 2015, the bitcoin economy reached new levels. Investors gave more than $200 million to companies working with digital currency. However, experts tend towards a sceptical view of the situation.